Bright start guaranteed for ambitious learner

A high achieving learner from Cardiff has become one of only three people to be accepted on a prestigious apprenticeship scheme with world leading international professional services firm, Deloitte.

Imogen Llewellyn, 19, who has just completed her BTEC National Extended Diploma in Business at Coleg y Cymoedd’s Nantgarw campus, was whittled down from hundreds of applicants to make the final three on the Cardiff stream of Deloitte’s BrightStart Apprenticeship. The four year course will see Imogen eventually become a qualified Chartered Accountant.

After initially finding out about the Deloitte scheme through a careers fayre, Imogen entered into a rigorous application process, which saw her go through personality tests, numeracy assessments, interviews and finally a presentation to one of the Deloitte partners. With help from her lecturers at Coleg y Cymoedd along the way, Imogen was eventually chosen as one of the three Cardiff apprentices who will kick off their four year course this coming September.

Imogen will get to work with a range of clients in different sectors and industries from the start of the scheme. Like her peers at Deloitte, Imogen will develop business advisory and consultancy skills, as well as on-the-job learning, which will stand her in good stead as her career grows. Deloitte is the second largest accountancy firm in the world, known as part of ‘The Big Four’ internationally.

Not only celebrating her place on the BrightStart scheme, Imogen recently discovered she has completed her two years at Coleg y Cymoedd achieving three Distinction* grades. Speaking about her time at the college, Imogen said: “It’s been great completing my BTEC at Coleg y Cymoedd and the lecturers have been really supportive throughout, particularly providing me with higher education options that don’t involve university. There are so many other great alternatives, such as the BrightStart scheme. I’m looking forward to a bit of a break over the summer but I can’t wait to get started in September.”

Through the BrightStart scheme, Imogen will earn a salary at the same time as gaining fully-funded professional accounting qualifications.

Coleg y Cymoedd’s Principal, Judith Evans, spoke of Imogen’s achievements, saying: “We are incredibly proud of Imogen’s achievements. She is a shining example of the hard-working learners here at the college. Like Imogen, we encourage all our learners to explore different higher education options, from apprenticeships to university to going straight into employment. Whatever the path they take, we hope the foundation laid here at Coleg y Cymoedd will set them up for a really bright and successful future.”